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Photo by: Atlantic Coast Conference
Knight Cruises to 5k final in Tokyo
8/3/2021 8:05:00 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Syracuse star Justyn Knight made his Olympic debut in strong form early Tuesday morning, racing to a qualifying spot in Friday's Olympic 5,000-meter final.
Knight cruised at a comfortable pace, maintaining his place among the race leaders for the duration. As the second semifinal, with the first semifinal having been taken out abnormally slow, the top-10 competitors from Knight's heat advanced. The 2018 graduate left no room for chance though, grabbing an automatic qualifying spot in third position (13:30.22).
Knight will be one-of-15 in the hunt for a medal on Friday at 8 a.m. ET (9 p.m. local time in Tokyo).
A two-time NCAA Champion and the most decorated athlete in ACC history, boasting 16 conference titles (5 team, 11 individual), Knight was the 2017 USTFCCCA Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He finished in the top-three of his last-seven NCAA Championship races. He is an 11-time USTFCCCA All-American.
Knight is seeking to become the fourth Orange Olympian to come away with a medal in Tokyo, which would break the school record for most medals accumulated in a single Olympics. Fellow track and field alumni Katie Zaferes already owns a silver and bronze from the triathlon and triathlon mixed relay events and softball's Jenna Caira also earned bronze for Team Canada already. Hattie Taylor (rowing) finished fourth for Great Britain and Kayla Alexander and Canada basketball didn't make the knockout round after group play. In addition to Knight, Jerami Grant is also still competing. He and USA basketball are on to the semifinal.
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Knight cruised at a comfortable pace, maintaining his place among the race leaders for the duration. As the second semifinal, with the first semifinal having been taken out abnormally slow, the top-10 competitors from Knight's heat advanced. The 2018 graduate left no room for chance though, grabbing an automatic qualifying spot in third position (13:30.22).
Knight will be one-of-15 in the hunt for a medal on Friday at 8 a.m. ET (9 p.m. local time in Tokyo).
A two-time NCAA Champion and the most decorated athlete in ACC history, boasting 16 conference titles (5 team, 11 individual), Knight was the 2017 USTFCCCA Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He finished in the top-three of his last-seven NCAA Championship races. He is an 11-time USTFCCCA All-American.
Knight is seeking to become the fourth Orange Olympian to come away with a medal in Tokyo, which would break the school record for most medals accumulated in a single Olympics. Fellow track and field alumni Katie Zaferes already owns a silver and bronze from the triathlon and triathlon mixed relay events and softball's Jenna Caira also earned bronze for Team Canada already. Hattie Taylor (rowing) finished fourth for Great Britain and Kayla Alexander and Canada basketball didn't make the knockout round after group play. In addition to Knight, Jerami Grant is also still competing. He and USA basketball are on to the semifinal.
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